Enter the Kent Garden of the Year Competition 2017 now

Green fingers at the ready - the Kent Life Garden of the Year Awards are back! We are looking for the best community gardning projects, school gardens and amateur gardens in Kent - and we want to hear from you

• Attach a written description of your garden and what it means to you (up to 300 words).

• Include up to eight photographs taken either last season or this year, that show overviews and details

• Add a sketch plan if possible

• Send in by post, email or enter online – see checklist below

The rules

• Entries from previous years, apart from the winner, are welcome

• The finalists will be photographed along with their garden

• Kent Life regrets that photos and sketches cannot be returned and that by submitting them you are agreeing to their use in Kent Life and its associated websites and publications.

The judging panel

Roger Platts, head judge: award-winning garden designer and plantsman

Amanda Cottrell, OBE: immediate past chairman of Visit Kent

Leigh Clapp: Kent Life garden editor and photojournalist

Andy Garland: BBC Radio Kent broadcaster and producer

Sarah Sturt: Editor of Kent Life

The sponsors

Helping Kent Life encourage the county’s gardeners, from the very young to the not-so-young, is award-winning garden entre Coolings of Knockholt and the much-decorated, land-based Hadlow College. Kent Life is extremely grateful for their ongoing support.

The charity

The Awards are held in support of Kent Life charity ellenor, which offers care and support to families facing terminal illness in Kent. It is the only charity in the county that provides hospice care for people of all ages – babies, children and adults - and their families. This includes pain and symptom relief, end-of-life care, respite, bereavement support and emotional and spiritual care.

The criteria

The judges will be looking at design and layout, plant use, attention to detail, maintenance and plant health, as well as the active participation and enthusiasm of the entrant/s. Children’s sketches and descriptions of what the garden means to them are welcomed.

• Photos (include 4-8 pictures of the garden, can have been taken last year)

• Plan of the garden (can be hand drawn or computer generated)

• Phone number and email

Judging process

Closing date for entries: 9 June 2017

All finalists’ gardens will be visited and photographed by Kent Life between 17 and 30 June 2017

The Garden Awards afternoon tea: 14 September 2017

At: Hadlow College TN11 0AL

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The categories

Amateur Garden

This award goes to the best amateur garden in Kent – small or large, new or well established, as long as you can demonstrate your hands-on passion for plants and creating a beautiful, lovingly-designed space that gives you and your friends and family pleasure, we want to hear from you.

Your name, address, phone number (home and mobile), email

Information to include about your garden

● What size is your garden?

● What style is your garden?

● How old is your garden?

● Did you create it?

● How long have you been gardening this plot?

● Have you had help from a designer or gardener?

● Are there any special features you would like noted?

● Describe your garden (300 words max.)

● About you: Tell us about yourself and your connection with the garden

__________

Primary School Garden

This award will go to the primary school that has best involved children to create an inspirational school garden; it can be edible or ornamental, new or well-established. The primary school should also be able demonstrate that it is teaching children how to garden and interact with nature. We’re hoping to inspire a new generation of green fingers in Kent to develop a passion for plants and to sow the seed for a lifetime’s love of gardens and growing. We urge children to invest in time in the garden – as well as the possibility of considering a career in horticulture after they leave school.

● Tell us about the garden areas and the children’s connection (300 words max)

__________

Community Garden

This award will go to fantastic and inspiring community gardening projects and people who are making their local area a greener place to live.Whatever you are doing to improve your local area with gardening and growing, we want to hear about it!

Kent Life aims to reward passionate and dedicated community gardeners, we are not looking for designer gardens and horticultural skills – we want entries bursting with community spirit.

Growing orchids is a passion for many across the globe. In Kent, Tom Hart Dyke’s love of these beautiful flowers put him in grave peril but has since been expressed with a dedicated collection as part of his World Garden exhibits at Lullingstone Castle